Chris Matheson in Parliament asking for a change in smear test legislation

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The recent death of a young mum from cervical cancer compelled Chris Matheson to step up his fight to change current smear test legislation.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, the Chester MP implored Health Secretary Matt Hancock to change the current 'ridiculous and arbitrary' law on cervical cancer screening.

It comes just over a week after 31-year-old mum of four Natasha Sale lost her battle with the disease, after years of campaigning to lower the age of screening.

She died just six days after turning 31, having been diagnosed at the age of 28, and fervently believed her diagnosis may have come sooner if she had been given a smear test before age 25.

Natasha's petition to lower the starting age for cervical screening from 25-18 has since passed the 100,000 mark.

Mr Matheson, who has been a steadfast crusader for the Smear on Demand campaign, which fights for women to have the right to demand a test despite their age if they are showing symptoms of cervical cancer, spoke out again to Mr Hancock, asking him to change the current law.

"I see tragically another young woman died of cervical cancer over the holidays, which she'd contracted before the age of 25 and therefore she wasn't able to have a smear test," said Mr Matheson.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock

"Will the minister as part of this review, remove this ridiculous and utterly arbitrary age limit so that when a GP believes their female patient needs a cervical smear they can have one irrespective of their age?"

In response, Mr Hancock, who has listened to the MP debate this subject on other occasions, said he 'entirely' understood the argument and pledged to speak 'very specifically' about it to Professor Sir Mike Richards who assesses cancer screening.

Smear on Demand campaign

"I entirely understand the argument the honourable gentleman makes, he's a reasonable man who makes reasonable arguments and I'll take that up with Mike Richards who's running the screening review and will ask Mike to write to him very specifically on this point and to take it into account," he said.

Under current legislation, if women are too young or not due for a smear test, they are not allowed one, even if their GP recommends it – meaning many with cancer symptoms do not end up getting diagnosed until it's too late.